Timer.



O. W. GRONEMAN.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1913.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1914* F/g Z /4 52 A) /Z 5/ 30 If,

W/fnesses COLUMBIA PLANOOIAPH FD-WASHINGTON. n. c.

G. W. GRONEMAN.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 7, 1913.

1 4 Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANMRAIH C0.,WASHXNOTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL W. GRONEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIMER.

Application filed February 7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL IV. GnoNnMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device or apparatus for recording certain periods of time, or recording the time between certain occurrences or events, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the timing of homing pigeons. In timing pigeon races, the time of starting is fixed and as soon as the pigeon reaches its home or cote the owner is required to note the time and report to the race managers or judges within a short time, for instance two hours. In

order to avoid erroneous or unfair reports it is desired to provide means for accurately recording the time elapsing between the arrival of the bird and the time the report is made to the judges, so that this period may be subtracted from the time elapsing from the start, which will give the actual flying time.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a device for recording such period of time, which device cannot be readily tampered with or manipulated so as to give a false or incorrect report. While this improved timer is particularly adapted for such use, I do not wish to be limited to this particular purpose, as it may also be used for watchmen or other purposes.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention; Figure 1 is a side view of the complete device with the outer casing broken away to show the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a somewhat similar view, taken from the opposite side, with the covering or casing removed and parts broken away; Fig. 3 is an end view with the receptacles for receiving identifying bands or other devices removed; Fig. 4t is a detail of one of the receptacles for receiving identifying bands; Fig. 5 is a plan view of an improved eseapement device; Fig. 6 is a side view of the same; and, Figs. 7 and 8 are details.

The device shown in the accompanying drawings is made in duplicate in order to provide means for taking the time of two pigeons, but as the two sides are identical in construction it will only be necessary to describe one of them.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 746,720.

A rectangular case 9 is provided with a center plate 10, in which is mounted one or more watch movements 11. The case 9 is provided at one side with a tubular projection 12, for receiving receptacles 13, which receptacles are provided for holding the identifying bands which are taken ofi froin the pigeons. In the form shown the tubular projection 12 is divided at the center by a wall 14. The receptacle 13 is made in the form of a tube being open at its inner end and closed at the outer end. The outer end is provided with a knob 15 for pushing the receptacle into position, and also for turning the same. A slot 16 is formed in the end closure and is adapted to receive the end of a cover 17 when the latter is placed in position so that, when such cover is in position, it locks the receptacles against removal but permits their being turned by the knobs. The cover itself may be locked in position in any convenient manner, for instance, by means of a screw 18 which extends outwardly from the case 9 and re ceives a locking nut 19. This nut is pre vented from turning by means of a pin 20, which may be sealed as indicated at 21, so that the nut cannot be removed without breaking the seal.

In order to start and stop the watch or clock mechanism at predetermined times, I provide the following mechanism: A lever 22 is pivoted at some convenient point within the casing, for instance as indicated at 23 and extends across the back of the watch movement, and its free end 2%. is bent inwardly so as to engage with a slot 25 within the inner wall of the tube 12. A spring 26 tends to press the free end of the lever 22 outwardly or toward the tube 12. For convenience, this spring is attached at one end to the pivot 23, and then bears against the watch case and has its outer end pressing against the shoulder in the end of the lever 22. The lever 22 is provided with a wire 27 which may be secured thereto in any desired manner and which h its end 28 bent down to engage at times with the balance wheel 2E). This arrangement is such that when the lever is moved in one direction, the wire 27 will engage with the balance wheel and stop the watch, but when the lever is released and is pressed outwardly by the spring 26, the wire 27 will be disengaged from the balance wheel and will permit the watch to run. The tube 12 is provided with a hole 30 in the side opposite the case 9. The receptacle 1?) is provided with a hole 31 which will register at times with the hole 80, and is also provided with a slot 32 which is substantially in alinement with the hole 31 and which will register at times with the slot 25 in the tube 12.

The operation of the timer as thus far described is as follows: The judges, or persons in charge of the race set the watches to indicate any convenient time, for instance an even hour and with the minute hand at Zero. This may be done by allowing the watches to run until such time as indicated and then pressing in the receptacle 13. lVhen the re ceptacle is pressed inwardly, the inner end will strike the end 2-1 of the lever 22 and will. swing the lever inwardly until the wire 27 strikes the balance wheel and stops the watch. hen the receptacles are inserted and the indications on the watches are noted, the cover 17 is pressed into position which locks the receptacles 13 so that they cannot be removed, although permitting them to be turned. The nut 19 is then screwed on and sealed and the timer delivered to the pigeon owner. At this time it will be noted that the holes 80 and 31 should register in order to permit the insertion of an identifying band into the receptacle 13. As soon as the bird arrives home, the owner removes its identi fying band and inserts it through the openings 30 and 31 into the receptacle 13 and then turns the knob 15 until the slot 32 registers with the slot 25, which permits the end 2 1; of the lever 22 to move outwardly a sullicient amount so that the wire 27 will release the balance wheel and permit the watch to start. This throw of the lever 22 may serve to cause the wire 27 to move the balance wheel slightly in order to insure the starting of the watch. It will be noted that when the end 24 drops into the slot 32, it locks the receptacle 13 from further rotation, and at such time the hole 31 will be opposite the hole 30, and there is no possible chance to change the bands, or tamper with the watch mechanism by inserting anything through the hole 30, this being the only open ing into the device. The owner then takes the timer to the judges, or persons in charge of the race, and they note the time which has elapsed from the time the watch started until they remove the receptacle and take out the band, and this time can then be sub ract ed from the total time, which has elapsed since the birds were released, thereby giving the exact flying time. lVhen the judges are ready to open the timer, they break the seal and remove the cover 17 which permits the receptacle 18 to be withdrawn and the identifying band can then be removed therefrom.

lVhile the sealing of the watches in the casing prevents their being directly tampered with, yet it is possible, with the ordinary watch works, to speed them up by rotating them in a plane parallel with the balance wheel. This has been known to be done in order to increase the apparent lapsed time of a timer. In order to prevent such speeding-up or manipulation of the timer, T. provide the protecting device shown in Figs. 5 to 8. As shown in these figures, I provide the escapement fork with laterally pr0- jecting cam-like wings or blades 8-1. These blades are preferably formed integrally and stamped out of a thin sheet of metal in the form indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, and then se- "I 3 0f r\ cured to the lower side of the fork em. lhe speeding-up of a watch is accomplished by causing the balance wheel to rotate a sufficient amount greater than its normal rotation, so that its roller pin will strike the outer side of the escapement fork and thereby give the fork a double oscillation. Normally the roller pin on the balance wheel only engages with the slot in the escapement fork, but by turning the watch case in the same plane as the balance wheel, and suiticiently fast, the balance wheel will rotate beyond its normal amount so that the pin will strike the outside of the escapement fork, or in other words will operate the fork twice where it should operate it only once, thus permitting the faster action of the time gear. The wings or cams 34- are placed so that one or the other will lie within the path of the roller pin on the balance wheel roller 36, depending upon which way the fork is moved. These cams or wings are bent downwarlly at their outer ends as indicated at 37 and are provided with recesses or grooves 38 in their upper surfaces. It the rotation of the watch case is not too great the roller pin 35 will merely strike against the downwardly curved ends of the wings 34-. and will not be caught thereby. However, if the rotation is sufliciently great to throw the balance wheel considerable distance past its normal swing, the pin will. ride up on the surface of the wing 34. and will engage with the slot or depression 38, which will. lock the balance wheel and therefore stop the wat'h, thus effectively preventing any speedingup action on the part of the user.

It will be readily seen that changes may he made in the form and arrangement of some of the parts of my improved timer without departing from the spirit of this invention, and therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact form or construction shown except as specified in the following claims in which I claim- 1. In a timer, the combination of a clock or watch, a casing for the same, a cover for said casing, a recess in said casing, a re ceptacle adapted to be inserted in said recess, said receptacle and cover being arranged. so

that the receptacle may be locked in position by the cover, and starting and stopping mechanism adapted to be operated by said receptacle.

2. The combination of a casing having a tubular recess therein, a watch mounted in said casing, a receptacle fitting in said recess, and having a slot therein, a cover for said casing having a portion engaging with said slot, means for locking and sealing said cover in position, and starting and stopping devices adapted to be actuated by said receptacle.

3. The combination of a casing, a watch mounted in said casing, a tubular projection on one side of said casing having a slot opening into the casing, a lever mounted in said casing, a spring tending to press said lever into said slot, a projection from said lever adapted to engage with a portion of the watch for stopping and starting the same, a cylin drical receptacle having an open inner end and a closed outer end adapted to fit in said projection, an outwardly extending knob on said receptacle for turning the same, a cover for said casing which also serves to lock the receptacle in the projection, said projection having an opening in the outer wall thereof, and said receptacle having a corresponding opening adapted to register at times therewith, said receptacle also having a slotat its inner end, the arrangement being such that the inner end of the receptacle will press the lever inwardly to stop the watch, and when turned the slot at its inner end will permit the lever to swing outwardly to start the watch, said lever also locking the receptacle against further revolution.

4:. In a timer, the combination of a tubular receiver closed at one end and open at the other and having a hole through the wall thereof, a receptacle having an open inner end and a closed outer end adapted to fit in said receiver, and having a hole therethrough adapted to register with the hole in the receiver, means for turning said receptacle to bring the holes out of alinement, and means for starting and stopping a time keeper, actuated by said receptacle.

5. In a timer of the character set forth, the combination of a casing having a tubular receiver in the side thereof, said receiver having a slot opening into the casing, a

watch mounted in said casing, a lever pivoted adjacent to said watch, a projection on said lever for starting and stopping the watch, a spring tending to throw the free end of said lever into said slot to permit the watch to start, said receiver also having an opening through the outer wall thereof, a receptacle having an open inner end and a closed outer end, fitting within said receiver, an opening in said receptacle registering at times with the opening in the receiver, said receptacle also having a slot at its inner end which will register with the slot into the casing when the receptacle is turned until the opening therein no longer registers with the opening in the receiver, whereby the lever may move outwardly to permit the watch to start, the outer end of said receptacle also having an annular slot therein and being provided with a knob for turning the same, and a cover fitting over said casing and engaging with said slot in the outer end of the receptacle for locking the receptacle in position, and means for locking the cover in position.

6. In a timer, the combination with the escapement lever of a clock or watch mechanism, of means co-acting directly with the balance wheel roller pin for stopping the mechanism if the balance wheel is caused to rotate beyond its natural movement.

7. The combination with an escapement lever, of projecting wings lying within the path of the roller pin and adapted to engage and hold said pin if the balance wheel is rotated through too great an angle.

8. The combination with an escapement fork, of projections lying within the path of the roller pin and adapted to engage and hold said pin if the balance wheel is thrown beyond its normal movement.

9. The combination with an escapement fork, of outwardly and downwardly eX- tending wings or the like, having cam-like upper faces with recesses therein, and a balance roller with its pin adapted to engage with said wings and enter said recesses when the balance wheel is given too great a movement.

CARL WV. GRONEMAN. \Vitnesses:

IRENE FoRnEsT, EDWARD H. TILLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente, Washington, D. O. 

